Disarming your Toddlers Biting Problem

Around one and three years of age, a toddler will frequently begin to bite others. The most frequent cause of this behavior is that there are only so many ways a toddler can communicate with those around him. Not all children are biters, however. Some of them shove, hit, pinch or grab. That’s probably just as bad!

Also, toddlers sometimes start biting because their motor skills and ability to communicate are so restricted, that they have to express themselves somehow.

A toddler likely finds it amusing when mommy jumps straight up, or a little friend starts crying. Another reason for biting is that the toddler is teething or because they just think everything should go in their mouth so why not someone’s arm? Sometimes the problem is something as simple as hunger.

What means can you use to help your child learn not to bite? You must make it perfectly clear that biting is wrong and hurtful. Let them know how much pain the other kids feel when your toddler bites them. Make sure you tell your toddler that biting is unacceptable and wrong and that mommy and daddy do not appreciate it.

If you think that your little one is biting out of frustration, help your toddler find another way to communicate that they’re having a hard time. Although it seems a gargantuan effort for your toddler to communicate with words, this is a great time to start teaching them the right words for a situation.

As an example, “When you need to tell mommy that you need some help, you can’t bite.” Or “Let mommy know what you need, but no biting. You’ll hurt her if you bite, and I know you would never want to hurt mommy.” This may bring a cloak of shame of what they are about to do and they may think their actions over again before actually biting.

Parents should not let biting become the center of attention. This will be true for any type of behavior that you want to discourage. Let your toddler know, firmly yet gently, that biting is not permitted, that it’s wrong and that it hurts everyone, grownup or child.

Visit Toddlers Now for more great tips on raising a little one.